Gutter levelling device

ABSTRACT

An adjustable gutter levelling device being a single piece of material shaped to have a base member for abutting a gutter&#39;&#39;s back wall, two web members extending substantially perpendicular from the base and each terminating in a line for abutting a facia board, and an attachment member extending from the base and forming with the base generally a U-shape for receiving the back of the guide therebetween. The device is adjustable by removing a portion of said web members to decrease the angle between the terminating line and the base member.

United States Patent [191 Hagaman 1 1 GUTTER LEVELLING DEVICE Boynton Craig Hagaman, Box 99-B, Rt, 2, Purcellville, Va. 22132 [76] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl. 248/481; 248/274; 248/300 [51] Int. Cl E04d 13/06 [58] Field of Search 248/482, 48.1, 274, 300; 52/12, 15

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 68,765 9/1867 Marshall 248/48.l 288,307 11/1883 Campbell.. 248/482 304,425 9/1884 Gould 248/482 344,236 6/1886 Berger 248/482 540,896 6/1895 Berger 248/482 1,961,728 6/1934 Arnest et a1. 248/300 UX 2,024,348 12/1935 Feltman 1 248/482 2,565,090 8/1951 Ramser 248/482 [4 1 July 22,1975

2,710,159 6/1955 Gordon 248/300 X 3,296,749 1/1967 Cotter 248/482 X 3,737,127 6/1973 Maloney et a1. 248/48 2 Primary Examiner-Roy D. Frazier Assistant Examiner-Rodney H. Bonck Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Fidelman, Wolffe & Leitner [57] ABSTRACT 5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures GUTTER LEVELLING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to gutter brackets and more specifically to an adjustable gutter bracket to maintain the gutter level relative to facia boards which are installed at various angles relative to a vertical plane.

In the building construction trade, it is common practice to secure the facia board trim at the eaves in a manner that results in the face of the facia board being at some angle other than vertical. Although this is an attractive and effective method, the facia board insulation makes it impossible to attach the gutter thereto so that it is level without the use of an extra device.

At the construction site, the installer generally uses makeshift equipment such as a shimblock, firring strips, or driving a spike into the facia board and cutting it off at the desired length. The prior art also consists of expensive mechanical levelling devices such as those disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 1,414,345; 2,024,348; and 2,434,754. These devices are disclosed for use with half-round gutters and include a generally U-shaped trough to receive the bottoms of the gutters and are connected through various mechanical elements to the facia board or other areas of roof structure. The devices of the subject patents are considered to be eave troughs hanging mechanisms which support the gutter and keep it level. The multitude of mechanical parts involved, as well as the weight of the materials needed to support the gutter, makes these devices expensive to manufacture and time consuming to install. They involve expensive materials and the manufacture thereof is unduly expensive considering the time involved in the mechanical assembly.

Other than the mechanical devices exemplified by the aforementioned patents, there is no inexpensive, easily adjustable gutter levelling device with the exception of those devised on site by the installer using scrap materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the present invention is a gutter levelling device to be placed between a facia board and a back wall of a gutter to be installed thereto so as to maintain the gutter level, irrespective of the angle at which the facia board is installed. The device is made from a single piece of material shaped to have a base member for abutting the back of the gutter and two web members extending substantially perpendicular from the base and each terminating in a line for abutting the facia board. An attachment member extends from the base and forms therewith a generally U-shape for receiving the back of the gutter therebetween so that the levelling device is supported by the gutter during installation.

The attachment member and the base each have a corresponding aperture therein to receive the spike which is driven through the gutter and into the facia board to be the main support of the gutter. The levelling device is adjustable by removing a portion of the web to decrease the angle between the terminating line of the web and the base member. Perforated lines are provided on each web member so that the adjustment of the angle by removal of portions of the web may be accomplished with ordinary pliers.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive gutter levelling device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive adjustable gutter levelling device.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a gutter levelling device to be placed between the rear of the gutter and the facia board so as to maintain the gutter level.

Still another object is to provide an inexpensive and easily adjustable gutter levelling device which may be adjusted by the use of ordinary pliers.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive gutter levelling device which is easy and inexpensive to package and ship.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawmgs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plane view of a preferred embodiment of the subject invention prior to being folded;

FIG. 2 is a plane view of a preferred embodiment of the subject invention including a reinforcement extension prior to being folded;

FIG. 3 is the embodiment of FIG. 2 folded;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 3 applied to a colonial-type gutter;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modification of the subject invention;

FIG. 6 is a plane view of another preferred embodiment of the preferred invention prior to being folded;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 6 applied to a half-round gutter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1, which illustrates the preferred embodiment of the gutter levelling device is shown made from a single piece of material and designated generally as 10. The device can be considered being made of two generally triangular sections 12 and 14 joined by a rectangular base section 16 which is extended at 18. The triangular sections 12 and 14 are bent along lines 20 and 22 to extend substantially perpendicular from the base section 16. Extension 18 is bent around line 24 to form a generally U-shaped attachment member to receive the rear wall of the gutter between section 18 and base 16 and be supported thereby.

The triangular web members 12 and 14 are identical and terminate in a line 26 or 28. Perforations 30 and 32 in each of the web sections 12 and 14 form smaller angles with the base member 16 at the line 24 than the angle that terminates lines 26 and 28 forms with base member 16 at 24. These perforations provide the angle adjustable feature of the present invention wherein portions of webs l2 and 14 may be removed with ordinary pliers.

Apertures 34 and 36 in extension 18 and base 16, respectively, are aligned when 18 is properly bent around line 24 and are adapted to receive a screw, spike or other fastening means which is used to secure the gutter to the facia board.

The gutter levelling device is generally made out I of sheet metal, but may be made out of any other suitable and inexpensive material. For example, the folded device may be molded out of plastic. In the flat state shown in FIG. 1, the device is easily handled, packaged and shipped to the ultimate user who bends the device into shape along fold lines 20, 22 and 24. The ultimate user may also adjust the device for varying angles of slanted facia boards relative to normal vertical by merely removing sections of web members 12 and 14 along the provided perforated, scored or indicated lines 30 and 32 or any other suitable lines.

FIG. 2 is a modification to the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 showing additional extended members 40, 42 and 44 extending from section 18. These additional sections when folded as shown in FIG. 3, provide reinforcement for the gutter by providing a generally inverted L-shaped section 42 and 44 to abut and support the front of the gutter. Also shown is spike 46 intersecting member 18 and base 16 through apertures 34 and 36.

The use of the present gutter levelling device between a facia board 60 and a colonial-type gutter 50 is illustrated in FIG. 4. The gutter 50 has a generally ogee front wall 52 terminating in a bead or flange 54 and having a hole 56 therein to receive a spike or other fastening means. The gutter also has a bottom wall which connects the front wall 52 and the back wall 58. The gutter levelling device 10 is shown having the base member 16 abutting and supporting the rear wall 58 of the gutter 50 and enclosing and being supported by the rear wall 58. Terminating edge 26 of web member 12 abuts the face of facia board 60 and maintains the gutter 50 level. Spike 46 is shown passing through extension 18 and base plate 16 into the facia board 60 and provides the majority of the support for the gutter. Reinforcement sections 42 and 44 engage the front 52 and flange 54 of the gutter and add additional support to the front thereof.

A standard ferrule may be provided between reinforcement member 42 and extension 18 and used with a longer spike entering through hole 56 proceeding through the ferrule and resting in facia board 60. Obviously, the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 without the reinforcement members 40, 42 and 44 may be used to level the gutter relative to the facia board 60. Depending upon the angle the facia board make with the vertical, the gutter levelling device 10 may be used as is or may be adjusted by removing sections of the web members l2 and 14 along perforations 32 and 30 with the use of an ordinary pair of pliers.

.The use of the gutter levelling device 10 as shown in FIG. 4 is most efficient, but a modification (as shown in FIG. 5) is also practical. Herein is illustrated the bending of extension 18 along lines 24 so as to form the generally U-shaped enclosed area with terminating edges 26 and 28. In this devices fashion, the rear 58 of the gutter abuts terminating lines 26 and 28 and the facia board 60 abuts the base member 16. Other than these differences, these devices are identical including adjustment of the angle of the terminating lines 26 and 28. Using the embodiment of FIG. 1, the side opposite the angle formed by the terminating lines 26 and 28 and the base member 16 is always horizontal even after adjustment. This is to be expected since the triangular web members 12 and 14 are substantially perpendicular to the base member 16.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a modification of the preferred embodiment of FIG. I for use with a half-round gutter 62. The numerals in FIG. 6 correspond to the equivalent elements in FIG. 1 and include a base member 16, triangular webs l2 and 14 and an extension 18 to the base member 16. The terminating edges 26' and 28 are connected to the base by edges 64 and 68. As shown in FIG. 7, the longer spike 70 is used with the ferrule 72 to support the gutter on the facia board and to retain the gutter levelling device of FIG. 6 in place between the facia board and the rear edge of the half-round gutter 62. It should be noted that the embodiment of FIG. 1 may be modified with sheers to produce the configuration of the embodiment in FIG. 6 on the construction site.

The gutter levelling device of the present invention provides an inexpensive, easily adjustable device made from a single piece of material to be placed between the back wall of the gutter and the facia board to maintain the gutter level. Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only. Modifications may be made thereto within the scope of the disclosure, such as the elimination of perforated lines 30 and 32 for easy adjustibility which would require only the use of a metal shear to adjust the terminating lines 26 and 28 for adjustment of the angle of the gutter relative to the facia board.

I claim:

l. A gutter levelling device in combination withtwo surfaces, namely a facia board slanted with respect to a vertical plane and the back wall of a gutter, comprismg:

a base means abutting one of said surfaces;

a first and second web means, each being triangular shaped, extending substantially perpendicularly from said base means, and terminating in a first straight line abutting the other of said surfaces;

at least one line of perforations on each web means defining an angle with said base member smaller than the angle said first terminating line makes with said base member, making the angles adjustable by removing a portion of each web means along said lines of perforation to define a second terminating straight line; and

an attachment means extending from said base means and forming with the means, which abuts the back wall of said gutter, a generally U-shaped closure receiving the back wall of said gutter between the legs of said U-shaped closure whereby said gutter is maintained level when installed to said slanted facia board by either the first or second terminating line of said web means.

2. A gutter levelling device as in claim 1 wherein said base, webs and attachment means comprise a single piece of material bent to form said base, webs and attachment means.

3. A gutter levelling device as in claim 2 including an aperture in said base means and a corresponding aperture in said attachment means adapted to receive a spike which supports the gutter on said facia board.

4. A gutter levelling device as in claim 3 wherein said web means are triangular with a first side abutting said gutter and a second side abutting said facia board.

5. A gutter levelling device as in claim 2 including a reinforcement means extending substantially perpendicular from a leg of said U-shaped closure across the interior of said gutter and terminating in an inverted L toabut and support the front of said gutter. 

1. A gutter levelling device in combination with two surfaces, namely a facia board slanted with respect to a vertical plane and the back wall of a gutter, comprising: a base means abutting one of said surfaces; a first and second web means, each being triangular shaped, extending substantially perpendicularly from said base means, and terminating in a first straight line abutting the other of said surfaces; at least one line of perforations on each web means defining an angle with said base member smaller than the angle said first terminating line makes with said base member, making the angles adjustable by removing a portion of each web means along said lines of perforation to define a second terminating straight line; and an attachment means extending from said base means and forming with the means, which abuts the back wall of said gutter, a generally U-shaped closure receiving the back wall of said gutter between the legs of said U-shaped closure whereby said gutter is maintained level when installed to said slanted facia board by either the first or second terminating line of said web means.
 2. A gutter levelling device as in claim 1 wherein said base, webs and attachment means comprise a single piece of material bent to form said base, webs and attachment means.
 3. A gutter levelling device as in claim 2 including an aperture in said base means and a corresponding aperture in said attachment means adapted to receive a spike which supports the gutter on said facia board.
 4. A gutter levelling device as in claim 3 wherein said web means are triangular with a first side abutting said gutter and a second side abutting said facia board.
 5. A gutter levelling device as in claim 2 including a reinforcement means extending substantially perpendicular from a leg of said U-shaped closure across the interior of said gutter and terminating in an inverted L to abut and support the front of said gutter. 